Son of Mrs. W.J. Hull, Lake Dalecarlia, Sgt. Hamblin flew his first mission July 20, when his Fortress unit attacked an airfield at Memmingen, Germany. He since has participated in many of the attacks on Hitler's vital oil and industrial centers and supply lines in southern and central Europe.
He enlisted April 3, 1942, and received his combat aircrewman's wings June 6, 1942, at Spokane, Wash. Prior to enlisting he was employed by the Wisconsin Steel Co., South Chicago.
From his position in the nose of his Fortress Sgt. Hamblin saw bombs go hurtling down on important industrial and military targets now threatened or in Russian hands on more than 30 occasions.
Veteran of 50 bombing missions over occupied Europe, Sgt. Hamblin participated in four combing attacks on Budapest, including the huge Manfried Weiss armament works located there and the important rail yards and bridges, keys to German communications.
Sgt. Hamblin flew on more missions attacking oil production and storage than any other target. In 12 flights over enemy territory his Fortress group, second oldest in the European and Mediterranean theaters, scored hits on the Ploesti, Rumania, refineries and those at Moosbierbaum, Austria, Blechhammer, Germany, and many smaller installations.
He has been awarded the Air Medal and three Oak Leaf clusters for "meritorious achievement in sustained aerial operations against the enemy".
Former employee of the Wisconsin Steel Co., South Chicago, Sgt. Hamblin has been in the service since April 3, 1942. His first mission upon arriving in the Mediterranean theater in June, 1944, was the bombing of the Memmingen, Germany, airdrome, July 20.
He is the son of Mrs. J.W. Hull, of Lake Dalecarlia.
A bombardier with the 15th air force, he was wounded three times during the course of the 52 missions he completed over France and Germany. Hamblin's half-brother, Ernest Louk, still serves as a surgical helper with the medical corps in the Pacific theatre.
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